Augustine Stoïkoff dans Pierre de Médicis 1860

André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri captured Augustine Stoïkoff in *Pierre de Médicis* in a series of photographs pasted onto an album page. Stoïkoff, a ballerina, embodies the Romantic era's fascination with femininity and the exotic Other. The photograph reflects the socio-cultural values of 19th-century Europe, where ballet was a symbol of aristocratic culture and female performers were often objectified. Stoïkoff's portrayal invites us to consider the complex dynamics of power, representation, and identity within the world of classical ballet. Consider the intense discipline and physical demands placed upon dancers, particularly women, to achieve an idealized form. Stoïkoff's image, replicated across these frames, speaks to the construction of celebrity and the commodification of the female body. Her gaze and posture reflect both vulnerability and strength, challenging us to look beyond the surface and recognize the person behind the persona.